Chapter 371: The pirates retreat?

December 29, 7th year of Chongzhen.

Zhang Zhun almost fell asleep last night, but he closed his eyes slightly when it was almost dawn. When the first ray of dawn appeared on the horizon, he had already woken up.

In fact, the soldiers of the Hu Ben Navy basically didn't fall asleep last night. Everyone was ready to go all out last night, doing all the battle preparations, waiting for dawn to continue fighting. Everyone knows that today's battle will definitely be more intense. The pirates' attack will definitely be even more crazy. If last night's battle was just a tentative attack, then today's battle will be the real climax.

Even Zhang Haibin took the initiative to apply to go to Ninghai to help Zhou Zhengyu command the battle. In the battle last night, Zhou Zhengyu's calf was injured by splashed wood chips, and he was unable to move. However, he refused to leave Ninghai, so Zhang Zhun had to let him. In fact, there were many soldiers like Zhou Zhengyu who were injured and unable to leave the line of fire. Inspired by the sinking of two pirate ships yesterday, the wounded were full of fighting spirit and confidence in victory.

Everything was ready, just waiting for the pirates to rush up.

After dawn, the sun never came out. The sky was gloomy and the visibility was very low. It felt like morning was similar to dusk. The sky was densely packed, all of which were covered with dark black clouds, pressing very low. It seemed to be on the top of a person's head, and you could touch it with just reaching out. Experienced old people know that this is a sign of snow. Such dense clouds must be snowing today. This heavy snow may not be stopped without three or four days. If you guessed correctly, this year's New Year's Eve will be spent in heavy snow.

Strangely, the sky was already bright and there was no trace of pirates. The sea outside Mawan was quiet and there was no ship. The sea level was also very quiet, with only layers of light waves, and white waves were gently emitting. Even until Siyu passed, there was no sign of pirates. The pirates seemed to have disappeared.

"Why are there no pirates?"

Shen Lingfei asked curiously, holding up the Qianli Mile Mile Mile Mile.

Zhang Zhun didn't sleep well last night, but she slept very well. She was safe beside Zhang Zhun. She could fall asleep as soon as she fell down. She was still wearing a white down coat, wrapping her petite body tightly in the clothes, and even wearing small deerskin gloves on her hands. Her face was red and pink, with a bit more cute.

"Watch the changes."

Zhang Zhun said slowly.

As time goes by, it is noon, but there is still no trace of the pirate ship.

Zhang Zhun held up a thousand-mile mirror and carefully searched the sea outside, and could not see any trace of the pirate ship. Because the sky was gloomy, the sea water was black at the same time. Due to the visual illusion, the black clouds in the sky seemed to be constantly rotating, as if monsters would emerge from it at any time. However, he never saw any clues related to the pirate ship.

There is no news of pirate landing in other defense areas of the Hu Ben Army. From the coastal areas of the Aoshanwei Tuling Mountain Guard, Zhang Zhun has arranged strict defenses. There are a large number of lurking whistles on the coastline. It is impossible for pirates to quietly go ashore. If the pirates forcibly land in other places, Zhang Zhun should have received the news.

Could it be that the pirates are not planning to attack?

“Go out and have a look.”

"Look at what the hell is pirates doing."

Zhang Zhun immediately ordered three Cangshan boats to go out for investigation.

Liu Sheng, Wang He, Cheng Lei and others slowly sailed out of Mawan with three Cangshan boats. They divided into three routes and drove in different directions. Soon, the figures of the three Cangshan boats disappeared into Zhang Zhun's Qianli Mile Mile Mile Mile. The position on the sea and sky line was still dark and there was no ship visible.

"Have the pirates withdrawn?"

Chen Lingfei said in confusion.

"have no idea."

Zhang Zhun said coldly.

Two ships were sunk and hundreds of people were lost. The pirates did have the possibility of withdrawing their troops. Last night's battle had been fully confirmed that if the pirates wanted to get close to the two floating turrets, they would definitely pay a heavy price. If they could not take these two floating turrets, the pirates would not be able to enter Mawan. If they could not enter Mawan, the pirates would not be able to continue attacking. This was a vicious cycle.

The pirates can only take down these two floating turrets by continuing to attack. However, the chain bullets and grape bullets shot out by the flying dragon cannon are not covered. If they cannot withstand the bombardment of the chain bullets and grape bullets, the pirates' jump gang battle will only be a dream. It is indeed very difficult to implement jump gang battles in front of eighty flying dragon cannons. It is not completely impossible to say that the pirates are afraid of being beaten and have to evacuate.

However, Zhang Zhun always felt that the pirates would not leave easily. Yes, the pirates were indeed sunk two ships, and there should be a lot of people who lost them, but the pirates still had eight ships and hundreds of people. The two No. 2 lucky ships, the main force of naval battles, did not suffer major damage. The combat effectiveness of the other six pirate ships was basically intact. There were craftsmen on top of each warship. After a night of hard work, these damages could be compensated.

Therefore, it is impossible for Sun Ronglu to give up the attack so easily. If he gave up the attack, he would not even think about surviving in the Zheng Zhilong Pirate Group in the future. It would be too embarrassing to be embarrassed. Sun Ronglu could not afford to lose this person. Perhaps, the pirate ships were gathering somewhere, like wounded beasts, licking the wound. Once the wound is healed, they will launch a new attack.

After noon, all three Cangshan boats came back one after another.

They found no trace of pirate ships outside the sea.

"No target was found."

"The pirate ship is gone."

"All the pirate ships are gone."

All Zhang Zhun received this kind of news.

The news spread quickly. The military and civilians around Mawan all breathed a sigh of relief. The originally tense nerves all relaxed. It was indeed a good thing that the pirates disappeared. Finally, there was no need to continue fighting, and the New Year was available. They all naively felt that the pirates must have retreated. They were sunk two ships as soon as they met. If they continued to fight, the pirates would not have lost more ships?

Only Zhang Zhun frowned.

The pirate's departure was indeed a bit beyond his expectations. Could it be that Sun Ronglu retreated like this? After losing two pirate ships, Sun Ronglu was willing to retreat? Is this pirate leader really not afraid of embarrassment? Did the pirate retreat or to retreat as an advance and try to lure the Hu Ben Navy to take the initiative?

"Follow closely! Keep a close watch!"

"The patrol ships should strengthen patrols outside Mawan!"

"There are always people on duty in Fuhai and Ninghai!"

Zhang Zhun said coldly.

The pirates were just injured, but not killed, and they were not careless at all. According to Zhang Zhun's experience, those who were injured were usually even more crazy. The same was true for the injured pirates. As for the pirates who wanted to lure the Hu Ben Navy to attack, I'm sorry, they were in vain. The two monsters that Zhang Zhun made would only stay here tightly and would never move their positions.

The three Cangshan boats continued to go out for reconnaissance. Then, Zhang Zhun arranged a large number of fishing boats and sampans to search the waters around Mawan carefully. He suspected that the pirate ship might be hidden in an unknown place. However, in the evening, the information was reported and the pirate ship was really gone. All the coastlines from Aoshanwei to Lingshanwei were investigated. The Hu Ben Army sentries along the coast did not see the pirate ship appear.

Zhou Zhengyu said in confusion: "Can't the pirates go back to celebrate the New Year?"

Yang Guohua said with little certainty: "I think there is a possibility. I am very clear about the attack of pirates. Pirates will not do anything without benefits. It is one thing for Yang Tiansheng to vent his anger on Nanjing City, but it is one thing for him to get benefits. Sun Ronglu must have planned to take Fushan City before the New Year, make a good deal, and celebrate the New Year in Fushan City. We have money and women, and we have everything, so the pirates are certainly willing to do it!"

"But now, the pirates have lost two ships and hundreds of people have died. It will definitely be a serious blow to the pirates' morale. If Sun Ronglu cannot take Fushan City this year during the Chinese New Year, his subordinates will definitely make him rebellious. Which pirate can defend it at the New Year at sea? Sun Ronglu may think it is unlikely to take Fushan City in two days, so he returned to Fujian for the New Year. Two days will be a good wind, which is enough for the pirates to go back to the coast of Fujian."

Zhou Zhengyu nodded and said, "That's right. Maybe they retreated last night. They retreated last night, at least eight hours more, and there was just enough time to go back to the coast of Fujian."

Zhang Zhun shook his head gently and said slowly: "I don't think it's possible. It's unlikely that Sun Ronglu will go back to Fujian. Maybe they are looking for a place to lick the wound."

Yang Guohua said in confusion: "Listen the wound?"

Zhou Zhengyu was also a little confused.

Zhang Zhun pondered for a moment and said slowly: "This is just my intuition, maybe I can't do it accurately. I always feel that Sun Ronglu may make a comeback."

Yang Guohua nodded and said, "That's right, the pirates are very revenge! If they suffer losses, they must find a way to make up for it. Sun Ronglu was sunk two ships this time and could not explain to Yang Tiansheng. He would definitely find an opportunity to kill him! He is indeed possible to find a place to repair the ships, boost the morale of the sailors, accumulate strength again, and then kill him back."

Zhang Zhun thought for a moment, made a decision, and said slowly: "Well! Since the pirates are not coming, let's have a good New Year! If you pass the order, except for the guards, everyone else can celebrate the New Year as planned! New Year's Eve is a big day, I hope Sun Ronglu won't come back on New Year's Eve!"
Chapter completed!